CLEC7A调节PD-L1促进卵巢癌生长的作用及机制研究

The role and mechanism of CLEC7A in regulating PD-L1 to promote ovarian cancer growth

  • 摘要: 目的 明确C型凝集素结构域家族7成员(CLEC7A)在高级别浆液性卵巢癌(HGSOC)中的作用及相应的机制。方法 通过癌症基因组图谱-卵巢癌(TCGA-OV)数据集,结合转录调控网络与主调控因子分析(MRA),明确HGSOC中CLEC7A基因对免疫相关基因的作用;通过通路富集分析与验证,确定了CLEC7A对酪氨酸激酶(JAK)/信号转导及转录激活因子3(STAT3)通路的调节机制。分析GSE184880单细胞测序数据集,揭示了CLEC7A低表达与高表达的HGSOC中免疫细胞的比例和细胞通信的差异。收集2017年1月至2022年12月在中国科学技术大学附属第一医院/安徽省立医院确诊并行手术治疗的70例HGSOC和70例卵巢透明细胞癌(OCCC)患者的石蜡肿瘤组织和对应癌旁组织以及临床病理资料,比较HGSOC与OCCC预后相关因素的差异;利用免疫组织化学染色法,检测CLEC7A和PD-L1在HGSOC和OCCC及对应的癌旁组织中的表达水平。构建CLEC7A的短发夹RNA(shRNA)载体,检测CLEC7A抑制后HGSOC细胞增殖和凋亡的变化。在CLEC7A高表达的小鼠肿瘤模型中,观察髓系免疫抑制细胞(MDSC)、CD8+ T细胞的比例以及MDSC的功能变化。结果 转录调控网络分析显示,叉头框蛋白P3(FOXP3)与CLEC7A对免疫相关基因均起到调节作用,CLEC7A不仅与患者总体生存率相关,还在HGSOC肿瘤组织中呈现高表达(均P < 0.05)。敲低CLEC7A后,不仅促进了细胞凋亡,还抑制了HGSOC细胞系的体内外增殖(均P < 0.05)。CLEC7A通过JAK/STAT3信号通路调控程序性死亡配体-1(PD-L1)的表达。在CLEC7A高表达的肿瘤组织中,CD8+ T细胞的比例下降,MDSC的比例上升,且MDSC的功能得到增强(均P < 0.05)。结论 HGSOC中CLEC7A诱导了PD-L1的表达,且促进了HGSOC的增殖与免疫抑制信号通路的激活,可能导致HGSOC的恶性生长。

     

    Abstract: Objective To elucidate the role of C-type lectin domain family 7 member A (CLEC7A) in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) and its underlying mechanisms. Methods Using the Cancer Genome Atlas-Ovarian Cancer (CGA-OV) dataset, combined with transcriptional regulatory network analysis and master regulator analysis (MRA), the impact of CLEC7A on immune-related genes in HGSOC was determined. Pathway enrichment analysis and validation identified the regulatory mechanism of CLEC7A on the Janus Kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. The GSE184880 single-cell sequencing dataset was analyzed to reveal differences in immune cell proportions and cellular communication between CLEC7A low-expression and high-expression HGSOC tumors. Paraffin-embedded tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent tissues, along with clinicopathological data, were collected from 70 HGSOC and 70 ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) patients diagnosed and surgically treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China/Anhui Provincial Hospital between January 2017 and December 2022. Differences in prognostic factors between HGSOC and OCCC were compared. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression levels of CLEC7A and PD-L1 in HGSOC, OCCC, and corresponding adjacent tissues. A short hairpin RNA (shRNA) vector targeting CLEC7A was constructed to assess changes in the proliferation and apoptosis of HGSOC cells both after CLEC7A inhibition. In a mouse tumor model with high CLEC7A expression, the proportion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and CD8+ T cells, as well as the functional changes of MDSCs, were observed. Results Transcriptional regulatory network analysis revealed that forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3) and CLEC7A both regulate immune-related genes. CLEC7A was not only correlated with overall patient survival but also highly expressed in HGSOC tumor tissues(all P <0.05). Knockdown of CLEC7A promoted apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of HGSOC cell lines both in vitro and in vivo (all P < 0.05). CLEC7A regulated the expression of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) through the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway. In CLEC7A high-expressing tumor tissues, the proportion of CD8+ T cells decreased, while the proportion of MDSCs increased, and the functionality of MDSCs was enhanced (all P < 0.05). Conclusion CLEC7A induces PD-L1 expression in HGSOC, promotes HGSOC proliferation, and activates immunosuppressive signaling pathways, potentially leading to the malignant growth of HGSOC.

     

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